Fan module

ABSTRACT

A fan module includes a blade, a motor, a circuit board and a housing having an accommodating space for receiving the blade and the motor. The circuit board has a set of electrical terminals exposed outside the housing. The set of exposed electrical terminals is used for electrically connecting to an electric connecting portion of a carrier without using a cable to receive a power source and/or control signals.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan applicationserial no. 98134646, filed on Oct. 13, 2009. The entirety of theabove-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by referenceherein and made a part of specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a fan module, and more particularly, toa fan module that achieves electrical connection in a cable-less manner.

2. Description of Related Art

In order to meet the requirements of high speed, high performance,light-weight, small-size and low-profile of current electronic products,various portable electronic products have become the main stream in themarket. As far as a notebook computer is concerned, because the notebookcomputer has only a limited space for receiving a heat dissipatingsystem, how to enhance the heat dissipating efficiency in the limitedspace has become one of the research focuses in the electronicsindustry. In general, the notebook computer usually is equipped with afan module adapted to dissipate the heat generated by heat-generatingcomponents within the notebook computer. As the fan module operates, hotair in the notebook computer is moved into a fan housing of the fanmodule via an inlet and discharged to an outside of the notebookcomputer via an outlet, thereby lowering the temperature within thenotebook computer.

The conventional fan module is assembled on a motherboard and powered bya rated voltage provided by power terminals of the motherboard. However,the electrical connections, such as for power and control signaltransmission, between the motherboard and the fan module are allachieved using insulated cables as external circuits connection.Although the insulated cables connect to the fan module, the insulatedcables for connecting the motherboard are assembled separately to thefan module, i.e., the insulated cables are electrically connected to themotherboard after the fan module is mounted. However, in assembly, it ispossible that the insulated cables are pulled which may cause plugs ofthe insulated cables to become disengaged from the power terminal of themotherboard, or cause the plugs of the insulated cables to becomedisengaged from the circuit board of the fan module. Besides, theinsulated cables should not be unduly long and should not be positioneddisorderly. The insulated cables generally need to be bound together toavoid damage due to interferences between the insulated cables androtating blades. There is, accordingly, a need to provide a method andstructure for assembling the fan module to the motherboard in a mannerwhich minimizes or eliminates at least one of the aforementioneddefects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a fan module whichdoes not need any insulated cables for electrical connection and whichtherefore prevents disengagement of the insulated cables as well asinterferences between the insulated cables and fan blades.

The present invention provides a fan module including a blade, a motor,a circuit board and a housing. The motor is used to rotate the blade.The circuit board is connected to the motor for controlling the motorand has a set of electrical terminals. The housing has an accommodatingspace for receiving the blade and the motor. The set of electricalterminals is exposed from the housing and is used to complete anelectrical connection between the fan module and a carrier in acable-less manner by being in direct contact with an electricalconnecting portion of the carrier.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the electricalconnecting portion comprises a conductive resilient tab. In anotherembodiment, the electrical connecting portion comprises a slot and aconductive resilient tab disposed in the slot.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the housingincludes a fan frame, and the circuit board is coupled to the fan frameand acts as a cover of the housing.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the circuit boardhas a hollow zone, a plate disposed in the hollow zone, and a pluralityof arms connected to the plate and span across the hollow zone.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the set ofelectrical terminals is located on the plate.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the circuit boardincludes a protrusion at its periphery, the protrusion protruding beyondthe periphery of the fan frame, and the set of electrical terminals islocated on the protrusion.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the housingincludes a cover and a fan frame, and the cover and the fan frame arecoupled together at their peripheries and collectively form an outlet.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the cover has ahollow zone, a plate disposed in the hollow zone, and a plurality ofarms connected to the plate and span across the hollow zone.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the circuit boardis coupled to the plate such that the circuit board is a part of thecover and the set of electrical terminals is exposed.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, the circuit boardand the cover are overlapped, and the cover has an opening via forexposing the set of electrical terminals.

In view of the foregoing, the fan module of the present inventionexposes the electrical terminals from the housing so that it does notneed to use any insulated cables, thereby preventing the plug frombecoming disengaged when the insulated cables are pulled as well as anydamage caused by interferences between the insulated cables and therotating fan blades.

In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages ofthe present invention more comprehensible, embodiments accompanied withfigures are described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an exploded view of a fan module according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 1B is an assembled view of a fan module according to one embodimentof the present invention.

FIG. 1C is an enlarged view showing the electrical connection between aportion A of a circuit board of FIG. 1B and an electrical connectingportion.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are exploded and assembled views of a fan moduleaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2C is an enlarged view showing the electrical connection between aportion B of a circuit board of FIG. 2B and an electrical connectingportion.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are exploded and assembled views of a fan moduleaccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1A is an exploded view of a fan module according to one embodimentof the present invention. FIG. 1B is an assembled view of a fan moduleaccording to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1C is anenlarged view showing the electrical connection between a portion A of acircuit board of FIG. 1B and an electrical connecting portion. Referringto FIG. 1C, in stead of using insulated cables, the fan module 100 iselectrically connected with the electrical connecting portion E of acarrier 200 (e.g. a computer motherboard) using a set of electricalterminals S. The electrical terminals S are, for example, planarterminals (commonly referred to as “gold fingers”) for receiving powerand control signals. The electrical connecting portions E are, forexample, a plurality of conductive resilient tabs. The conductiveresilient tabs have curved portions that can be in direct contact withthe surface of the electrical terminals S to form an electricalconnecting structure. Therefore, insulated cables are not needed for thetransmitting or receiving of signals. The structure of the fan module100 is described below in greater detail.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, the fan module 100 includes a housing 110,a circuit board 110 a, a motor (not shown) and a blade 120. The blade120 and the motor are disposed in an accommodating space of the housing110. The circuit board 110 a connects to the motor for controlling themotor, and the motor in turn makes the blade 120 rotate. For example,the blade 120 is secured to a periphery of a hub 130 and is capable ofrotating about an axle of the hub 130 to generate an air flow. The motormay drive the blade 120 to rotate at a predetermined speed. The air flowgenerated by the blade 120 moves toward an outlet 102, taking the heataway from a heat source to reduce the temperature within a system.

Although a controller or a processor is not illustrated in the presentembodiment, it is to be understood that a controller can be electricallyconnected to the circuit board 110 a or the carrier 200 and control thesignals between the circuit board 110 a and the carrier 200. Therefore,once the system temperature is lower than a preset temperature, thecontroller can turn off the power supply to the fan module 100 and theelectrical terminals S of the circuit board 110 a no longer receive thepower so as to cease the rotation of the blade 120. Once the systemtemperature is higher than the preset temperature, the controller canthen turn on the power supply to the fan module 100 and the electricalterminals S of the circuit board 110 a receive the power again so as todrive the blade 120 to rotate.

It should be noted that, in order to expose the electrical terminals Sfrom a surface (e.g. a bottom surface 112) of the circuit board 110 a,the circuit board 110 a is configured to be a cover of the housing 110to facilitate the direct electrical connection between the electricalterminals S and the electrical connecting portion E of the carrier 200.As a result, it is no longer required to weld one end of the insulatedcable to the electrical terminal and subsequently plug a plug at theother end of the insulated cable into a slot of the carrier. Asillustrated in FIG. 1B, the housing includes a fan frame 110 b, and thecircuit board 110 a and the fan frame 110 b are coupled together attheir peripheries to form the complete housing 110. Therefore, thecircuit board 110 a is taken as a cover of the housing 110.

In addition, the circuit board 110 a has a hollow zone H, for example,at a central area thereof, but not limited herein. The hollow zone Hallows outside air to enter the housing 110 and an air flow is generatedunder the rotation of the blade 120. A plate 114 and a plurality of arms116 connected to the plate 114 are disposed in the hollow zone H, forexample. The plate 114 is supported by the arms 116 that span across thehollow zone H. The plate 114 may act as a support portion for supportingcomponents such as the hub 130 and the electric motor. The configurationof the hub and the electronic motor is well known to those skilled inthe art and thus is not further described herein. In the embodiment, theset of electrical terminals S is located on the bottom surface 112 nearthe periphery of the circuit board 110, but not limited herein.

Next, FIGS. 2A and 2B are exploded and assembled views of a fan moduleaccording to another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2C is alocal view showing the electrical connection between a portion B of acircuit board of FIG. 2B and an electrical connecting portion. In thisembodiment, the circuit board 110 a and the fan frame 110 b areconfigured in substantially the same manner as described in the previousembodiment, except that the circuit board 110 a further includes aprotrusion P protruding beyond the periphery of the fan frame 110 b andthe electrical terminals S are located on the protrusion P. Theprotrusion P is in a form of a plug such that, in the presentembodiment, the electrical connection between the electrical terminals Sand the conductive resilient tabs 204 disposed in a slot 204 can beachieved by inserting the laterally disposed protrusion P into the slot202. As a result, for this embodiment, the electrical connecting portionE of the carrier 200 mainly consists of the slot 202 and the multipleconductive resilient tabs 204 in the slot 202, and is used toelectrically connect to the electrical terminals S, likewise, withoutusing any insulated cables.

Next, FIGS. 3A and 3B are exploded and assembled views of a fan moduleaccording to another embodiment of the present invention. In thisanother embodiment, the housing 110 includes a fan frame 110 b and acover 110 c. The cover 110 c is, for example, made of an insulativeplastic material. The cover 110 c and the fan frame 110 b are coupledtogether at their peripheries. The cover 110 c can protect the circuitboard 110 a or increase the overall structural strength of the fanmodule. Besides, the shape of the cover 110 c can be the same as theshape of the circuit board of the previous embodiment. In the presentembodiment, the circuit board 110 a can be reduced in size as shown bythe broken line. However, the description made herein is not intended tolimit the cover 110 c and the circuit board 110 a to any combination ofshapes disclosed herein but rather, in alternative embodiments of thepresent invention, the cover 110 c and the circuit board 110 a could beof any different shapes. The cover 110 c has a hollow zone H1, forexample, at a central area thereof, which allows outside air to enterthe housing 110. A plate 114 a and a plurality of arms 116 a are formedin the hollow zone H, for example. The plate 114 a is supported by thearms 116 a that span across the hollow zone H to act as a supportportion.

The circuit board 110 a can be integrated with the cover 110 c so as tobecome a part of the cover 110 c. In this connection, the circuit board110 a can be coupled to the plate 114 a of the cover 110 c. For example,the plate 114 a can be processed to form an open slot (not shown) toreceive the circuit board 110 a such that the circuit board 110 a andthe electrical terminals S on the circuit board 110 a are exposed fromthe open slot. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 3A, if the circuit board110 a is not configured as a part of the cover 110 c, such as thecircuit board of the conventional fan, the circuit board 110 a canoverlap with the plate 114 a of the cover 110 c and the plate 114 a canform an opening C for exposing the electrical terminals S. Therefore,even the housing 110 includes an additional cover 110 c, the electricalconnection between the electrical terminals S and the electricalconnecting portion E of the carrier 200 can still be achieved withoutusing any conventional insulated cables as long as the electricalterminals S of the circuit board 110 a is exposed.

In summary, the fan module of the present invention does not need to useany insulated cables, thereby preventing the plug from becomingdisengaged when the insulated cables are pulled as well as any damagecaused by interferences between the insulated cables and the rotatingfan blades. In the present invention, the conductive resilient tabs areelectrically connected with the electrical terminals of the circuitboard, thus overcoming the above shortcomings and facilitating theassembly of the fan module onto the carrier. Besides, by configuring thecircuit board as a part of the plate of the housing or a part of thecover, not only can the cost be reduced, but the height of the fanmodule can also be reduced such that the fan module occupies lessinterior space in notebook computers to meet the low-profilerequirement.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the structure of the presentinvention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the present inventioncover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fallwithin the scope of the following claims and their equivalents.

1. A fan module comprising: a blade; a motor, used to rotate the blade;a circuit board connected to the motor for controlling the motor, thecircuit board having a set of electrical terminals; and a housing havingan accommodating space for receiving the blade and the motor, whereinthe set of electrical terminals is exposed from the housing, and the setof exposed electrical terminals is used to complete an electricalconnection between the fan module and a carrier in a cable-less mannerby being in direct contact with an electrical connecting portion of thecarrier.
 2. The fan module according to claim 1, wherein the housingcomprises a fan frame, and the circuit board is coupled to the fan frameand acts as a cover of the housing.
 3. The fan module according to claim2, wherein the circuit board has a hollow zone, a plate disposed in thehollow zone, and a plurality of arms connected to the plate and spanacross the hollow zone.
 4. The fan module according to claim 3, whereinthe set of electrical terminals is located on the plate.
 5. The fanmodule according to claim 2, wherein the circuit board includes aprotrusion at its periphery, the protrusion protruding beyond theperiphery of the fan frame, and the set of electrical terminals islocated on the protrusion.
 6. The fan module according to claim 1,wherein the housing comprises a cover and a fan frame, and the cover andthe fan frame are coupled together at their peripheries and collectivelyform an outlet.
 7. The fan module according to claim 6, wherein thecover has a hollow zone, a plate disposed in the hollow zone, and aplurality of arms connected to the plate and span across the hollowzone.
 8. The fan module according to claim 7, wherein the circuit boardis coupled to the plate such that the circuit board is a part of thecover and the set of electrical terminals is exposed.
 9. The fan moduleaccording to claim 7, wherein the circuit board and the cover areoverlapped, and the cover has an opening via for exposing the set ofelectrical terminals.
 10. The fan module according to claim 1, whereinthe electrical connecting portion comprises a conductive resilient tab.11. The fan module according to claim 1, wherein the electricalconnecting portion comprises a slot and a conductive resilient tabdisposed in the slot.
 12. The fan module according to claim 1, whereinthe carrier is a motherboard in a computer.